The Surprising Link Between Your Oral Health And Your Fertility

As strange as it sounds, the health of your gums and teeth can affect everything from your risk of developing cancer to becoming susceptible to strokes, brain bleeds, and even heart disease. We wouldn’t think so, but our mouths are truly a metric by which we can gauge the health of the rest of our body. There’s a surprising link between your oral health and your fertility, one that’s definitely worth exploring if you’re looking for answers about your reproductive health.

Oral Health Can Make or Break Us

How is it that not brushing your teeth regularly can severely impact your health? How is it that poor oral hygiene can lead to things like cancer, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, and osteoporosis?

Consider where exactly your mouth is situated. It’s connected to both the complex network of your digestive organs and your respiratory system. Not only that, but your mouth is teeming with both good and bad bacteria, and if not controlled or limited, these bacteria can spread to other parts of the body and result in serious illness or disease.

Failing to care for your oral health leads to what’s commonly known as gum disease, or gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the precursor to periodontitis, and not brushing at least twice a day or flossing regularly can result in early symptoms of gingivitis, like bad breath and bleeding gums. When gingivitis isn’t treated, it can lead to gum disease or periodontitis, which occurs when the gums become severely inflamed. Periodontitis can lead to tender or swollen gums, tooth decay, and tooth loss. 

Plaque can travel from your mouth to your artery walls, affecting your cardiovascular system.

We brush our teeth to prevent both inflammation and plaque buildup, both between teeth and below the gum line. Excess plaque on the teeth can cause a buildup of bad bacteria in the mouth, and too much plaque can even travel from the mouth and take up space within artery walls, affecting the cardiovascular system. Chronic inflammation can affect the rest of your body – including your fertility.

What’s the Connection?

We now know that oral hygiene can affect our chances of conceiving as much as obesity also affects those chances, thanks to a study from the University of Western Australia. The study observed 3,500 women who were trying to get pregnant, some with good oral hygiene and some with gum disease. The study found that the healthy oral habits participants conceived, on average, within five months. The participants with gum disease took an estimated seven months, resulting in an additional two months of trying for the women with poor oral health.

The lead researcher on the project, Roger Hart, theorized that the excessive inflammation which occurs as a result of gum disease was impairing participants' chances of getting pregnant. There is also believed to be a link between endometriosis and gum disease – the same bacteria produced in the gums was found to trigger the immune response commonly found in connection with endometriosis, a reproductive disorder where the tissue of the uterus grows outside of it rather than inside it. 

Inflammation is a common reaction to many different types of stimulants, like bacteria. Physically, this often results in symptoms like swelling and bruising – but those are only the reactions we can see. Inflammation is a common immune response, but the development of chronic inflammation can damage the body and lead to the development of chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.

The same bacteria produced in the gums triggered the immune response commonly connected with endometriosis.

It’s crucial to know that while gum disease and chronic inflammation can delay the time it takes for a woman to conceive, men are also susceptible to similar issues as a result of poor dental hygiene. The Journal of Clinical Periodontology discovered that symptoms of gingivitis, like swollen and bleeding gums as well as plaque buildup, were a risk factor for decreased sperm motility and low sperm count. Another investigation, from a midwifery and reproductive health publication, found a direct link between erectile dysfunction and gum disease.

Optimizing Both

Roger Hart, lead researcher from the study at the University of Western Australia, surmises that modifying your oral care could “improve the chances of a pregnancy.” Good and thorough oral healthcare has always been important, but now we know that there are added benefits to a hygienic oral routine. 

Most dentists recommend brushing at least twice a day, flossing regularly, and getting biannual oral checkups with a dentist or hygienist. A dentist can recommend specific brushes or toothpaste according to your needs, and help modify your routine if you’re experiencing symptoms of gum disease. Gum disease and gingivitis are treatable, but it’s crucial to catch them early to mitigate their impact.

Experts also suggest limiting sugary foods, like soda and candy, and eating a nutrient-rich diet as well as drinking water regularly. This is important not only for your oral health, but for your reproductive health as well. Where fertility and anti-inflammation are concerned, you can really kill two birds with one stone by incorporating fatty fish, berries, avocadoes, and other fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. This kind of diet strikes a perfect balance in both preparing your body for pregnancy and limiting the effects of inflammation.

Closing Thoughts

The more we know about our bodies, the better equipped we are to take on any challenges that may arise. Approaching pregnancy might be your biggest challenge yet, but armed with the knowledge you need to optimize your fertility, it’s one you’ll definitely be prepared for.

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